Folding chair.



A. D. CONVERSE.

FOLDING CHAIR.

APPLICATION HLED APR- 5, 1913.

1,182,978. I Patented May16,1916.,

11 4 T a 1 I I Al- I j ll /Z0 12" ll iv 23531 5 19 2% THE COLUMBIA PLA'NDGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c

ATHEBTON I). CONVERSE, OE WINCHENDON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April-5, 1913. Serial 0. 759,226. I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ATHERTON D. CON- VERSE, a citizen of the United. States of America, and a resident of Winchendon, in the county of lVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible rockers and particularly to that class in which the side members are connected by a centrally divided seat and a centrally divided back all hinged together and adapted to be folded simultaneously to permit said side members being moved toward each other.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple brace beneath the folding seat to give rigidity to the device when in condition for use, said brace being formed in two parts pivoted together with the ends so articulated to the side members that said brace, seat, and back may simultaneously be folded.

The invention consists primarily of two flat V-shaped members pivoted together at their apices and having their ends connected tothe side members of the rocker by pivots at right angles to the seat thereof.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of construction and arrange-- ment of parts which will be fully under.- stood by reference to the description of the drawings and to the claim hereinafter given.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 represents a plan of a device embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 represents an elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a transverse section of the same, the cutting plane being on line 33 on Fig. 2, Fig. 4 represents a horizontal section of the same, the cutting plane being on line 44 on Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 represents a sectional detail showing the back of chair extending over the seat to prevent it from folding.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the several figures of the draw- 111 s.

Tn the drawings, 10 represents a side frame which may be of any desired shape, as, for instance, the shape of a horse or other animal, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The frame 10 is composed in part of a curved rocker member 11 adapted to rest upon the floor and rock in the usual manner. Interposed between the side frames 10 is a folding seat 12 centrally d1- vided at 13, the two portions of said seat being connected together by a long hinge 1% extending longitudinally thereof. This hinge is secured to the two parts of the seat portion 12-so that said seat portion may be side frames as clearly indicated in the drawings. The seat 12 is also provided with a back 18 centrally divided at 19, said back being Wholly disconnected from the seat portion 12. The two parts of the back 18 are pivotally secured together by means of hinges 20 extending longitudinally thereof and secured to its front face so that said back is adapted to fold rearwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The opposite edges of the back 18 are pivotally secured by hinges 21 or other means to the side frames 10. Pivotally secured to the rear of one part of the back 18 is a latch member 22 adapted to engage a projection 23 secured to the rear face of the other part of said back, this latch 22 and projection 23 coacting to prevent the folding of the back when the rocker is in use. It is obvious that when any weight, as, for instance, that of a child, is resting upon the seat 12, the folding of the seat will be effectually prevented. As an additional safeguard to prevent the accidental folding of the seat portion 12, the lower edge of the back 18 extends over the upper face of said seat 12 adjacent to its rear edge, and thereby firmly locks said seat portion 12 in extended position and effectually prevents any upward movement thereof.

In order to give greater rigidity to the device a brace is provided immediately beneath the forward part of the seat 12, this brace being formed of two V-shaped members 24, the apices of which are pivotally connected by means of a'hinge 25. These members 24: are preferably made of flat metal strips as shown. The outer upper ends of each of the members 24 are connected tothe body of the side members 10 by pivots 26 at right angles to the seat portion 12 when extended. The'outer ends of the lower arms of the members 24 are similarly connected by pivots 27 to the curved rocker members 11. The hinge 25 is so ar- Patented May 16, 1916. i

ranged as to permit the brace members 24: to fold rearwardly as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

It will be apparent, from an inspection of the drawings, that the combined members 24 form a cross brace, with the upper arm of each member coacting with the lower arm of the other member and extending diagonally from the body portion of each side member to the rocker member of the other side member. By means of this brace thus constructed and positioned immediately beneath the forward end of the seat 12 and extending from the body of the'side members to the rocker members 11, sufficient rigidity is given to the rocker without the necessity of other cross members, foot rests, or play trays, which latter members, usually found in devices of this character, may be entirely dispensed with.

When it is desired to fold the device this may be accomplished by raising the latch 22 thereby permitting the back 18 to be folded rearwardly, the seat 12 to be folded upwardly, and the brace 24: to be folded to the rear, all into the position indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, these operations being effected simultaneously.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of a collapsible rocker of this construction will be fully understood from the foregoing description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a device of the class described, the combination of two side members; a centrally divided folding seat interposed between and pivoted at its opposite edges to said side members; a centrally divided back normally extended over the rear edge of said seat; and V-shaped metal braces neath said seat pivoted to said side fram by pivot members perpendicular to said folding seat when extended the inclined upper portion of each brace being parallel to the inclined lower portion of the companion brace; and a hinged connection between said braces the axis of which is adjacent to the front edges of said braces whereby said brace when extended will sustain the weight of the occupant of said seat and may be folded rearwardly simultaneously with the folding of said seat and. back.

Signed by me at Winchendon, Mass, this 27th day of March, 1913.

ATHERTON D. CONVERSE. Witnesses:

NELLIE M. DRISCOLL, E. KATHERINE ALLEN.

copiel of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

